Prompting in Collaboration with ChatGPT

Just this week, I got a message (with a shared link) from my LinkedIn connection - Naeim Asgary :

Naeim has a formula he follows that he shared in his Behance post.

His prompt structure is:

Car make and model, car paint color, city name, location, mood, camera make and model, camera lens make and model, camera aperture settings.

I wanted to push the envelope a bit. I have wrestled with Midjourney to create renders that are ACCURATE to a specific car. It is not an encyclopedia with exacting details - it is more of an approximation engine that get's close and calls it a win. I wrote a post on this over a year ago called "the 6 finger problem"

In addition to this, I am mindful of the woodcut prints by Albrecht Durer (see below). Seth Godin references this non-accurate representation in his latest book 'This is Strategy'

"Each detail is finely rendered, but not quite right. But if you look at it for a while, the essence of a rhino comes through." - Seth Godin

In much the same way Durer totally got the REAL details wrong, Midjourney gets the REAL details wrong when prompting for specific vehicles, but the essence does shine through. The best way to improve on those details, is to add in as many of the pertinent design details as possible. So, employed this approach with expanding upon the prompt structure that my friend Naeim Asgary shared.

I added Naeim's base prompt and added to the requested details:

I want to create some prompts for Midjourney to generate high-quality, realistic car images. The formula I am going to use is - Prompt: Car make and model, car paint color, city name, location in the city, mood, camera make and model, camera lens make and model, camera aperture settings, position of the photographer in relation to the car (vantage of the image - ground level view, bird's eye view, etc). Include time of day, weather and photography style.? In order to get the MOST true-to-form version of the car - I want to include the designer's name that is responsible for the particular car. For paint color, I want it to be relevant to the colors available for that year, make and model. Does this make sense?

ChatGPT went on to add:

Here’s how to further refine your formula for achieving the most accurate and authentic results:

1. Designer’s Name

Including the designer’s name for the car will help emphasize the design language and visual authenticity of the vehicle.

? Use phrases like “designed by [Designer Name]” or “featuring design cues by [Designer Name].”

2. Paint Colors

To ensure you capture the authentic colors available for the specific car model and year, research the manufacturer’s official color palette for that time. Incorporate these into the prompt. For example:

? “in the factory-original [Paint Color Name]”

3. City and Location

Be specific about iconic or recognizable locations in the chosen city. This helps MidJourney understand the backdrop better. For example:

? “in front of the Louvre, Paris”

? “on Rodeo Drive, Los Angeles”

4. Camera Details

Camera specifications like make, model, and lens settings create a more realistic photographic output. Ensure these are consistent with the type of shot you want:

? Wide-angle for dramatic shots

? Telephoto for zoomed-in details

? Prime lens for crisp and clear imagery

5. Vantage and Lighting

The position of the photographer (e.g., ground-level, drone shot) combined with lighting and time of day will significantly affect the mood:

? “ground-level view during golden hour”

? “bird’s eye view at midnight under a streetlamp”

6. Weather

The weather adds realism and mood to the image. Specify conditions:

? “on a rainy evening”

? “under clear blue skies at noon”

7. Photography Style

Mention the photography style to guide composition and tone:

? “styled as a cinematic car commercial”

? “in the style of modern automotive photography”

Example Prompt:

“1967 Ford Mustang Fastback in Candy Apple Red, designed by Joe Oros, parked on Rodeo Drive, Los Angeles, under golden hour lighting with a warm, cinematic mood. Captured using a Canon EOS R5 with a 50mm f/1.2 lens, aperture set to f/1.2 for a shallow depth of field. Ground-level view with a clear blue sky backdrop, styled as a high-end car commercial.”

Research Tools:

To ensure accuracy for designers, paint colors, and city backdrops, you can:

? Use official car manufacturer brochures or online archives.

? Search for car-specific details on enthusiast websites (e.g., Cars & Bids, manufacturer sites, or forums).

? Explore photography resources for lens effects and camera styles.

Would you like help creating specific prompts for certain car models or researching a few designers?

Let's look at some obscure sports cars. What are the top 5 cars you can think of as elite sports models we can explore developing fun prompts for?

To each of the supplied prompts (as well as the Mustang image above) I added:

--ar 3:2 --style raw --s 350

1. 1971 De Tomaso Pantera

? Why It’s Special: A blend of Italian design by Tom Tjaarda and American power (Ford V8 engine). The Pantera epitomizes raw speed with exotic styling.

? Design Highlights: Aggressive wedge shape, pop-up headlights, and sharp angular lines.

? Prompt Idea:

1971 De Tomaso Pantera in Giallo Fly Yellow, designed by Tom Tjaarda, parked outside the Colosseum in Rome at sunset. Captured with a Hasselblad 500CM camera, using an 80mm f/2.8 lens for a classic film-style look. Ground-level view under a moody, cloudy sky with a cinematic vibe. Styled as a vintage motorsport advertisement.

2. 2005 Spyker C8 Laviolette

? Why It’s Special: A Dutch hand-built sports car with aviation-inspired design. Known for its intricate details, such as exposed gear linkage and propeller-style wheels.

? Design Highlights: Aluminum bodywork, dramatic scissor doors, and quilted leather interiors.

? Prompt Idea:

2005 Spyker C8 Laviolette in Jet Black Metallic, designed with aviation cues by Maarten de Bruijn, showcased in Amsterdam’s canalside streets at twilight. Captured with a Leica Q2 camera, 28mm f/1.7 lens, emphasizing reflections on wet cobblestones. Low-angle view with a cool, moody atmosphere and overcast skies, styled as an editorial luxury feature.

3. 1991 Venturi 400 GT

? Why It’s Special: A rare French supercar, and one of the first road cars to feature carbon brakes. Its clean lines and track pedigree make it an icon for enthusiasts.

? Design Highlights: Sleek aerodynamic body, flared wheel arches, and bold grille.

? Prompt Idea:

1991 Venturi 400 GT in Bleu Lumière, designed by Gérard Godfroy, roaring past the Eiffel Tower at dawn. Captured using a Nikon F4 with a 35mm f/1.4 lens, panning shot to blur the Parisian background. Ground-level perspective under a light morning mist, styled as a vintage motorsport magazine cover.

4. 1984 Isdera Imperator 108i

? Why It’s Special: A German boutique sports car, born out of a Mercedes-Benz concept. Known for its gullwing doors and rear-view periscope.

? Design Highlights: A futuristic yet boxy design with functional aerodynamics.

? Prompt Idea:

1984 Isdera Imperator 108i in Arctic White, designed by Eberhard Schulz, showcased on Berlin’s Unter den Linden boulevard at dusk. Captured with a Sony A7R IV and a 24mm f/1.4 lens, focusing on the car’s periscope reflection. Bird’s-eye view under neon streetlights with a retro-futuristic vibe, styled as an 80s sci-fi movie poster.

5. 2010 Noble M600

? Why It’s Special: A British supercar focused on raw driving performance with a twin-turbo V8. It’s minimalistic yet luxurious.

? Design Highlights: Smooth, curvaceous body with a minimalist interior.

? Prompt Idea:

2010 Noble M600 in Rosso Corsa, designed for precision and speed by Lee Noble, parked at a secluded coastal road in Cornwall at sunset. Captured with a Fujifilm X100V using a 23mm f/2 lens, with the golden light accentuating the car’s curves. Ground-level perspective with dramatic cliffs and crashing waves in the background, styled as an automotive art piece.